City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Knoxville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Knoxville, TN (92.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,700 in Knoxville, TN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,184 a month in Knoxville, TN versus $1,114 in Augusta, GA. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Knoxville, TN and 18% in Augusta, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,567 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Knoxville, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Augusta, GA to Knoxville, TN changes real buying power by −0.7%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Knoxville, TN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,725 in Knoxville | $99,281 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,184/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $47,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Knoxville, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 82.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 71.9 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Knoxville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
67 Fair offer
Knoxville, TN → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Knoxville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Knoxville, TN | Real change, Augusta → Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $61,980 | $61,534 (−2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $121,750 | $120,874 (+0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $75,380 | $74,838 (−2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $77,240 | $76,684 (−12.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.